The time for caution is over.
Liverpool are ready to launch an all-out offensive for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, stepping directly into a tug-of-war with Chelsea.
As reported by Fichajes, with the midfield rebuild under Arne Slot hanging in the balance, the Merseyside club are preparing a formal £54 million bid to test Barcelona’s resolve
It’s not just about ambition. It’s about need.
Slot’s top target, Martin Zubimendi, turned down Anfield out of loyalty to Real Sociedad. Arsenal are now circling him. That miss has sharpened Liverpool’s urgency. And De Jong? He’s the calibre they crave—press-resistant, two-footed, positionally intelligent. A conductor in chaos.
But the Dutchman won’t come easy.
Chelsea want him too. They see him as the final piece in their midfield puzzle. And Barcelona? They’ve already opened renewal talks, hoping to keep the 26-year-old who, under Hansi Flick, has finally become indispensable again.
Still, Barcelona’s finances don’t lie. De Jong’s contract expires next summer. If they won’t renew now, they may be forced to sell.
And that’s Liverpool’s window.
De Jong has danced close to the exit before—United nearly got him. He stayed then. But Liverpool offers something different now: Champions League nights, a clear role, and a system that suits his rhythm. Chelsea have the cash, yes. But Liverpool have the crescendo.
This is not a signing just for headlines. It’s a test of project versus purse. Vision versus volume.
De Jong once said he’d only leave Barça for the “right footballing reason.” Arne Slot may have just written it.